Developing a STEM Project

A great way to give youth a voice in the learning is to have them create a project based on their interests in STEM. Watch and listen as Kevin guides youth, from a week-long summer STEM program, as they create a capstone project based on their study of Australian animals. Notice these effective tools used to ensure success - scientific journals, group collaboration, time and space to work on their project.

Research suggests: Out-of-school STEM programs can provide young people the opportunity to develop and pursue STEM questions or ideas that have personal meaning over time (whether hours, days, or weeks) in ways that can encompass the full range of STEM practices—from problem to solution or from question to explanation. (Productive OST STEM Programs)

As you watch the skill video below, think about these questions:

What was the question Kevin asked? What were the youth's responses? How was this question effective in getting youth to think and talk about their poster design? (1:16-1:46)

What processes and tools do you see the youth using to develop their project? (1:59 - 2:29)

After the groups completed their project, they shared their results through an activity with the public. What are the interactions between the youth and their audience? Were they engaged? How would this experience make meaning to what they learned about Australian animals? (2:58-3:20)

What could you add to the project to connect to youth's prior experiences, about what they might believe about Australian animals and culture?

I took the kids to travel across America. We went from California to Brasil, the students were able to travel and identify not only geography but they learned about the different people. We learned about the topography and languages. The students were very excited to learn and most importantly they were happy to collaborate with their peers.